“Who am I?” is a question that we ask ourselves during dark times in our lives or maybe just times of being introspective. The Bible helps us to answer that question not just from our own perspective but from God’s perspective. Over the next 13 blogs that I write we’re going to look in the book of Ephesians chapters 1 and 2 at thirteen things that God says we are.
I am blessed! We’ve all heard it and have probably said it. “I am blessed.” What does that mean? Is it just referring to material things? Is it only when we are successful that we are blessed? Is it only when things are going well for us that the favor of God is on us and we are blessed? In the book of Matthew in the famous “Sermon on the Mount”, Jesus lists nine ways that we are blessed.
Blessed are the poor in spirit
Blessed are those who mourn
Blessed are the meek
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness
Blessed are the merciful
Blessed are the pure in heart
Blessed are the peacemakers
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness
Blessed are those who are insulted, persecuted, and lied about.
It seems that Jesus is saying that we are not just blessed when things are going well, but when our perspective is turned more on him instead of circumstances. Can we really be blessed when things aren’t going well? When it seems that all hell is coming against us? When we spend more time in the doctor’s office or hospital than at our place of work? The answer is emphatic. Yes, we can.
Even though we may struggle, we are blessed. Our time of weakness is when his strength carries us. Paul confirms this in 2 Corinthians 12:9.
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.”
You are blessed today not because you’ve done the right things, but because the grace of Jesus Christ abounds in us.